OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Charleston, SC 29407

Charleston: median income $85,367, home value $451,800, $356/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 95%1,840$86,962$506,300$368 pricier homes ($55K more)
Portland, OR 97222 93%2,412$83,119$490,900$316 pricier homes ($39K more)
Dallas, TX 75238 92%969$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($117K more)
Englewood, CO 80110 92%1,466$85,900$497,300$284 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97008 92%2,421$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($126K more)
Dallas, TX 75208 91%977$81,950$438,400$281 Very close on everything we compare
Longmont, CO 80501 91%1,478$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($37K more)
Salem, OR 97302 91%2,429$85,833$446,400$268 Very close on everything we compare
South Portland, ME 04106 90%915$86,188$438,800$367 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80215 90%1,472$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($198K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95826 90%2,335$82,127$463,300$320 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98466 90%2,424$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($151K more)
Bristol, RI 02809 89%779$97,764$485,000$387 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Portland, ME 04103 89%917$89,796$459,500$356 Very close on everything we compare
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 89%189$89,185$452,700$340 newer homes
Maitland, FL 32751 89%299$95,387$453,700$291 smaller
Orlando, FL 32806 89%307$89,046$441,300$288 more homeowners
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 89%1,472$89,627$609,800$331 pricier homes ($158K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 89%1,447$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Portland, OR 97218 89%2,412$88,924$496,600$316 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28205 88%173$75,622$457,200$356 more renters
Atlanta, GA 30316 88%258$102,891$443,400$299 5 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33611 88%370$90,910$479,800$368 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Richardson, TX 75080 88%970$92,903$447,100$272 younger residents
Austin, TX 78745 88%1,062$86,109$504,800$291 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · newer homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.